Wednesday, as predicted, started dull but forecast to brighten up in the afternoon, although in the end it was late in the evening at Bolehill before we saw sun at our cottages (see link). We had decided to head over to Cheadle near Leek to have a look at St Giles Roman Catholic Church which was designed by Pugin (he also designed the Houses of Parliament). The church is considered one of his best and it took about 3/4 hour to get there and parking was noticeably cheaper. We managed to find the church, after all its 200 foot spire is visible for miles around and I had a look round the church while Chris stayed outside with the dogs. Chris then joined me in the church and afterwards he showed me where Blue had tried to join him on a parapet but ended up many feet below at the entrance to the crypt! Luckily he was none the worse for his short flight! The High street is admittedly bereft of shops but we found a nice cafe with an outside seating area where we could take the dogs. We then headed a few miles up the road to Leek where the sun came out. After a little shopping we drove the few miles to the Roaches Tea Room but between leaving Leek and arriving at the tea room the sun disappeared behind the clouds again. Thursday was a sunnier and warmer day. Two departures and two arrivals with one cleaner here. A day of odd jobs including catching up on accounts both business and WI. We have found with the hot weather we have gone from watering the plants once a week to every other day. First guests arrived just after 3pm, they have been before, second cottage didn’t arrive until after 8pm by which time I had gone out and Chris had to forgo his fish and chips as the shop had closed. I had gone to Longnor for our annual WI outing. We had a lady take us for a short walk around the village, and in those forty five minutes I learnt a lot about the village. After the walk we had fish and chips in the village fish and chip shop which comes highly recommended. We also had a brief WI meeting. On the way back I talked to Lynne about hay making as I had commented that I had never seen so much hay making going on since we moved here. She said it was the right combination of warm and dry days. Apparently cutting and rowing takes place during the day but baling in the evening so the hay has been able to dry Make hay while the sun shines! Last year it been too wet for much hay making to take place and many had left the grass for silage instead. On the way back there was a glorious view of Parkhouse Hill against the setting sun. Sorry I don’t have a photo.